Escaped inmate turns himself in

Escapee Brandon Deaton is escorted to Knox County Detention Center by Carl Bolton and Sydney Wagner after turning himself in Tuesday.

After a day on the run, an escaped Knox County inmate turned himself in.

Brandon Deaton, 19, of Barbourville, ran away from a state work release program at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, at the junction of KY 229 and KY 1304 in Girdler.

“I was scared,” said Deaton, when asked why he ran. “I had a lot on my mind and I wanted to see my family.” Deaton explained that he had not planned the escape, it was a spontaneous decision.

After escaping, Deaton made his way to the home of his wife at Sublimity Hollow in Girdler. The next day, deputies from the Knox County Sheriff’s Department visited the residence. Deaton hid in the woods near the house while deputies searched for him. Though the deputies left empty handed, their presence made an impact on Deaton.

“Everywhere I turned they (The Sheriff’s Department) were there,” explained Deaton. “I knew I wasn’t going to get anywhere by running. Besides, I have family that care about me and running wasn’t going to help them.”

Shortly after deputies left, Deaton made the decision to turn himself in.

“The pressure must have gotten to him,” said Knox County Sheriff Mike Smith. “We’re glad it ended like this. Any time something like this happens we make it a top priority to apprehend the individual.”

Deaton had previously been arrested Nov. 27, 2015 and charged with assault and was served with a bench warrant for a drug court violation. He had a year left to serve.

Deaton was charged with second degree escape and lodged back in the Knox County Detention Center.